Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: Pseudoscience-is-malarkey on 24/07/2020 01:15:29

Title: Is it likely our planet had rings?
Post by: Pseudoscience-is-malarkey on 24/07/2020 01:15:29
It seems that whenever I see or read about a terrestrial planet sporting rings, it is in science fiction. But how about when Earth crashed with the smaller Theia? Could it have formed a ring system? I know it formed our moon. idk.
Title: Re: Is it likely our planet had rings?
Post by: Kryptid on 24/07/2020 05:53:17
I do seem to recall Earth being depicted as having a temporary ring system after the Theia collision on one television documentary. That ring was shown to coalesce into the Moon.

You might be interested to know that the minor planet 10199 Chariklo has a ring system, despite being a mere 232 kilometers across: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10199_Chariklo#Rings